Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-01-08
A ROW OF OLD COpPERS.
The Collection of Coins NJ the National
Museum.

A ROW OF OLD COPPERS.
The Collection of Coins at the National
Museum.
AN INTERESTING SERIES OF AMERICAN CEyrs-A
FULL EXHIBIT OF CURRENT MONEYS As WELL AS
RARE COINS CoNrEMPLATED-CURIous sPEcnlNs
ON EXHIBITION.
"That is, have no doubt, the most complete
collection OF American cents extant," remarked
the numismatist at the National Museum to
STAR reporter, referring to collection OF Ameri-
| can cents just presented TO the museum by DR.. /.
f. Maggie, OF Pennsylvania Though there are
only about four hundred OF these pennies. coin
collector would value them at several hundreds
OF dollars. CDR. Maggie has been collecting them
for years, said the numismatist. s'He has proba-
ely examined a good many tons OF coins to pick
out Theses in fact, scrutinized every penny he has
ever SEEM
DR.. Nagle's collection Of 'coppers" have been in
stalled In large case I'm the hall devoted to the
exhibition OF historical objects. Each one has
little label attached giving the date and describ-
ing the popularity OF the penny by which it is
known and classified by the numismatist. For
instance, one label says ST In cent inclined TO
left" another says simply 'eieven berries" mean
ing that the man who engraved the die, cut eleven
berries In the wreath
VARIETIES OF CoPPERs.
The series embraces nearly every issue OF each
"
In 1898 to the present date The cents issued dur
ing the first few years are distinguished mainly
by the TACT that the Liberty head upon them does
not wear Liberty cap, but carries that article OF
apparei on the end OF a pole which Is swung over
her shoulder. In 1903 the cap and pole were
| dropped out and Liberty appeared with circlet
the word Liberty This fashion prevailed
down to the day when the coin
ags t Of the big copper cents ceased in
sued. The first OF the small cents were issued In
That year, and had on its reverse the image OF an
eagle In fight. subsequently the indian head, which
mas continued in vogue, appeared. The collection
while OF historical value illustrates the fine dis
| functions made by numisnatiSts. The coinage OF
variety may owe its origin to the accident OF a
broken die, the cent showing on its face slight
mutilation that would hardly be discovered with
microscope.
ENGRAyERs' PRIVATE MARKS
| Then varieties were produced also by the whiIn
OF the die Sinker or engraver who desired to put
his ''fecit or private mark on his work. This he
| did by emitting or adding berry to the wreath
giving little curl oftwo TO the stem, detecting
| letter somewhat or making some other mOdifica-
tion which the casual observer would never notice
but the numismatist will at once recognize. TWO
big copper cents issued in 1917 are among the
rarest In the collection. These have the Liberty
heads well defined. but on the top OF the head,
over the Liberty cap, Is a small protuberance,
which under microscope appears as a crown. DIR.
Maggie says this is representation OF the British
crown and 1t was cut In the die by an engrayer OF
British crown over the American Liberty head.
COINS THAT RECORD HISTORY.
"The United States +" observed the coin man,
after looking over rows OF coppers, fought to issue
every time new President is inaugurated special
coin on which should be struck finely engraved
head OF the President and suitable inscription
The issue might be limited, or course. Why? be-
cause history is recorded on coins These coins, T"
he remlrked, turning to the rows OF pennies with
their Liberty heads shave no meaning that would
enlighten any one centuries hence In the days OF
the Roman empire, when there were no newspa-
perS record OF gre heroic events was struck
on the coins, and today these coins are the only
records Of such events. There was a Kingdom Oc-
cupytng portion OF Syria whose identity was
completely lost until collection OF the coins OF the
country was found. These coins gave an outline
OF the history OF the country. Coins are almost
tmperishable. II record was made of each new
administration on an issue OF some standard coin.
say silver TWENTY-FIVE cent pieces, those coins
would probably be taken out OF circulation at once
by people who would treasure them Tor their
historic value.'
AN EXHIBITION OF CURRENT MONIES.
The National museum has already large cOllec-
ton OF coins which is rapidly growing through
donations, deposits or exchanges. 1t is proposed
to exhibit collection only of coins OF value on
account OF their rarity historic Importance, but
to make, il possible, complete exhibit OF the cur
rent moneys OF the world. Already portion OF
the coins In the possession OF the museum nave
been placed on exhibition i'm the historical hall,
arranged according TO plan devised by Mr.. g.
Blown Goode. his plan contemrlites arranging
order with full descriptive labies telling not only
the values OF the different coins, their weights and
nneneSS, but giving their value also il United
States coin. There viii be full exhibit Of the
coinage OF the United States together with proof
impressions from the bureau or engraving and
printing. OF United States notes OF every de-
nomination issued. Mr.. Paul Beckwith is at pres
ent associated with Mr.. \. ii. CLARK, who has
charge OF the historical collections I'm the arrange
ment and installation OF the collections or coins.
In addition TO coins cole ton OF medals Is be-
ing made. Some Of the drawers in Mr.. ClarkS
cabinets are flied With society badges and parti-
paignS.
CURIOUS COINS.
In the coin collection are many curious speci-
mems. The japanese series comprises not
only old coins but also a full collection OF
! the current coinage OF that country, adopted
In recent years and based upon the decimal
system. These modern coins were made on
the model OF the United States currency, and,
like the Chinese system, includes trade dollar
The ancient japanese coins are irregular bits or
slabs OF metal. Some OF them are very large cor
rugated and inscribed with India ink. The Mext-
can coins and monies offer an Interesting study.
There Is collection OF the nickel coins recently
issued by the National government, but which the
people with their states ghtS tendencies refused
! to receive. The government gathered the coins
| together and sold them FOR Old metal, while the
| people went on bartering with their state coins
| Some OF the money USED are mere bits OF paste
board stamped. Silver coins split into several
| pieces to make fractional currency. The numtS-
matiSt said that when ne was in Mexico he found
| in some places pieces OF hard soap bearing the
| government stamp and circulating as money.
| Whether this currency got its value from the
rarity OF soap or otherwise was not stated. "The
the slang term soap or money. You have lob
ably heard people ask: 'How are you OF for
| soap?'"
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